Pharmacy Technician Programs: an Edge in the Workplace |
 |
July 24, 2006
by Gabby Hyman
gabby.hyman@healthcare-programs.com
Healthcare Programs Columnist
Although many pharmacy technicians learn on the job, today's complex pharmaceutical, medical, and legal challenges have made graduates of pharmacy technician schools the prime candidates for contemporary pharmacy careers. In many states, testing for Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) is voluntary. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that well-schooled pharmacy technicians are needed to fill positions that will experience "much faster than average growth" through the end of the decade.
Pharmacy Schools Need Versatile Students
Pharmacy schools and pharmacy technician programs focus on training students to handle increasingly difficult tasks -- well beyond answering phones and stocking drug store shelves. Today's CPhTs are called upon to weigh, measure, and sometimes mix prescription medications. They also track vital patient records, verify patient profiles, and prepare insurance forms. It's no wonder that today's pharmacy technician programs introduce students to pharmaceutical terminology, pharmacy law, medical ethics, and patient social interactions.
Pharmacy technicians take satisfying careers in hospitals, chain and small pharmacies, nursing homes, managed care and assisted-living facilities. Many enjoy part-time or flexible work schedules.
Developing a Sound Technical Practice
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) reports that CPhTs spend about two thirds of their time assisting the pharmacist, and the balance in maintaining medication stocks and records, or participating in administration activities. Lately, there is a trend in the profession to instruct pharmacy technicians to improve patient safety by tracking medication errors. The PCB study further shows that pharmacy techs are increasingly "involved in compounding medications and coordinating communications" on the job.
Most pharmacy schools and pharmacy technician programs include internship components that place students directly in a working pharmacy where they practice their new skills under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist (Pharm.D). That's sound logic since seven out of ten newly minted pharmacy technicians are expected to work in retail pharmacies.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
About the Author
Gabby Hyman has written for print and online media for more than 20 years. He has created online content for eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Avaya, and Nissan UK.
|
Related Articles |
 |
|
|
| |
